Welcome to Your Creative Chord Podcast, where host Jenny Leigh Hodgins, author and educator, shares unique insights dedicated to empowering your creative flow and inspired living. Through solo reflections and dialogues with creators and wellness experts, Jenny Leigh shares holistic wisdom influenced by her Buddhist practice, alongside poetic insights and practical strategies for living authentically. This podcast helps you overcome challenges and unlock your full creative potential. Welcome to Episode 90 of Your Creative Chord, Part 2 of our three-part series on Grief, Caregiving and Creativity. I'm Jenny Leigh Hodgins, creative empowerment coach and host of Your Creative Chord Podcast. In this series, we're exploring how creative expression can help reduce isolation, process difficult emotions, and connect us to meaning in our lives. This episode also marks the two-year anniversary of publishing my books, "Kaleidoscope of the Heart," a collection of poetry and lyrics, and "Start Piano What You Need for Successful Learning." So I'll be sharing poetry, original songs, and piano pieces that have helped me navigate grief and loss. In Episode 89, we began this series with poetry and music as tools to reflect and process grief. Today we'll continue that exploration through meditative musical moments, reflection, and creative expression to help you connect with your own experiences and the people you love. Today we'll start with a music listening experience. Before we hear this piece, take a moment to settle in. I understand that sometimes grief and the complex emotions that arise with that experience may at times feel intense. So please take a break, pause, or come back to this episode and anything within this special series whenever you need. And if you need greater support, please do not hesitate to call a therapist or a qualified grief counselor. I wrote a song called "If You Were Here" as a conversation with my late brother after his sudden death in a car accident in 2004, 10 days before his 29th birthday. Creating poetry, songs, and music has been a lifeline for my grief journey. The song "If You Were Here" is an expression of my grief, my love, remembrance, and the way my brother John's spirit continues to inspire me to live. He lived adventurously and with bold confidence in himself. As you listen to my song, let any feelings, memories, or images naturally emerge from within you. There's really no need to fix or analyze anything. Simply allow the song to carry you into your own reflections and connect with whatever comes up in your heart.[music][song showing I'm controlled by your own Leon obeys my your smile. I know you'd go an extra mile. I know you would tell me to dig your heels in what you believe in. I know you would shake my fears. I know you would dry my tears if you were here. Over time I thought that the pain would fade, but it's always there like you. So I feel this rain pouring out my heart, looking for the sun to shine through. I know you would crack your smile. I know you'd go an extra mile. I know you would tell me to dig your heels in what you believe in. I know you would shake my fears. I know you would dry my tears if you were, if you were, if you were here. I know you would crack your smile. I know you would go an extra mile. I know you would tell me to dig your heels in what you believe in. I know you would shake my fears. I know you would dry my tears if you were, if you were, if you were here. Is you you. As we continue exploring creative expression and grief, I want to share a poem from my book, Kaleidoscope of the Heart, called Lifelines. Before we begin, take a moment to notice your own breath and any emotions that might be present. You may want to place a hand on your heart or rest it on your belly for a sense of calm and comfort. Lifelines. Silence breathed in between songs I play, with devoted touch of fingertips to piano keys, like a gardener singing softly to her lavender and lilies. Music brings me the sounds of love today. Moments of sweetness in each tune, balanced with the beat of rests in between. The rise and fall of all I have seen cries out the song of a goodbye too soon. Alone, I go deep within to hold all those memories of you and me. I find them all most usually when my guard is down and uncontrolled, as in the pulse of rich piano chords pouring from me like rivers flow and melodies that seem to know exactly which way sings forwards. Or in the quiet softness of morning dew, while carefully planting sunflower seeds, nature knows well just what I need to hear and feel remember you. When I'm lost and nearly incapacitated, in desperate need of consolation, I trust in music and nature's vibration. I feel how these lifelines are related to my heart, my soul, and the outside world. So I give myself to this all-encompassing place, raise my tender hopes to this divine grace, while the pain of loss, regret, and sorrow still swirl like angry bees around my lowered head. But push on through, in the garden of my muse, I know it is the time I cannot refuse to face this misery my heart has bled. As usual, I have said too much, I spin around in dizziness, confuse myself with busyness, my words defy me like a crutch. So, back to breathing, let stillness be my healing, hope, and path to rescue. Yet, never will I ever forget you, for you inspired the best of me. Now I want to share another poem from Kaleidoscope of the Heart titled "My Wheels," which is a tribute to my brother and the ways he inspired me to keep moving forward through my grief. In my last conversation with John, he actually encouraged me to buy a road bike and start riding the Lexington, Kentucky trails. And after he died, that's exactly what I did. And riding my bike is still a way to connect with my brother's spirit, his love of nature, and was the catalyst for my own nature photography hobby that is now part of my brand and my business. So here is "My Wheels." Cherishing the slap of the wind against my face, as I ride my wheels through the bike path, I feel your spirit next to me, embracing fresh air, marveling at gorgeously green leaves, cute quick bunny rabbits, graceful birds in the sky, frothy waves crashing on a quiet beach. I ride alone or with a new friend by my side, but always you are there with me, like the skateboarding youths on the other side, or the red-haired boys eating ice cream, or diving into the sandcastle walls on the shore. I feel your energy pushing my petals, steady to the beat of my own breathing. There you are, your voice providing silent commentary on the exhilaration of the outdoors, laughing at the joy of moving fast under the warm sun to the sound of bird language or crumpling leaves underneath, the thrill of rolling wheels down a steep hill, the silence of the blue on the water's waves, the golden farewell of an inflated beach ball sun rolling beyond the horizon of a vast ocean. You are there in the air, in the floating clouds, drifting far away above me, and yet at one with me. Sometimes I can feel your big arms around me, bear hugging me from your invisible seat in the universe, or hear your cocky laughter in my ears when the memory of one of your silly antics crosses my mind as I remember our moments together in this life, before I started riding my bike to be with you again, to make quality time with your spirit. Because I know you would love my wheels and the distance I have pushed myself to go on for the sake of our bond, my dear brother. Let's go ride on. Take a few moments now to sit with whatever feelings or images have surfaced. Allow yourself to simply be present with them, and feel free to pause this episode for a few moments and come back to it. Creativity can be a way to honor our loved ones through something original, a performance, or a heartfelt dedication. After driving up from Florida to Kentucky in 2014, my father passed away from cancer. I spent the next three days driving through ice and snow covered roads to practice on my sister's baby grand piano, quickly relearning my father's favorite Debussy piece, Claire DeLune. I performed it at Dad's memorial as my sincere tribute and offering of my love, respect, and gratitude. As you listen to that performance, allow the music to gently meet whatever is in your heart. I composed a song to honor my dear late friend Linda, who passed away very suddenly from cancer, literally within two months of a diagnosis. Her loss was another unexpected shock, and it came at a time when I was deeply involved as a music educator directing 80-member children's choruses and teaching 600 kids a week. After her passing, I was asked to lead a local Relay for Life team, supporting those affected by cancer and raising awareness. I wrote the song called "Every Step is for You" as a tribute to my friend Linda's life and spirit, and it became a choral performance piece that my students sang every year at Relay for Life events. The song reflects how grief and loss can inspire us to honor others, take action, and live with stronger purpose. So here is that song,"Every Step is for You," with the lyrics from page 161 of my book, "Kaleidoscope of the Heart."[music] Hearing dreaded words of diagnosis ringing out in your darkest hour. On your own you faced the demon of a sickness raging to devour. Pulling courage from your heart You have pushed beyond extreme Let us rise up here beside you now Hold your hand and be your team Every step is for you Every breath for your cause Everything that we do We do just because We fight for your survival We fight for your dreams We walk for your honor And we know what that means Every step is for you Every moment within Is up the hall We all know is what we must win You have suffered enough in one lifetime Enduring agony and pain But no matter what you've been through Your dignity will always remain Pulling courage from your heart You have pushed beyond extreme Let us rise up here beside you now Hold your hand and be your team Every step is for you Every breath for your cause Everything that we do We do just because We fight for your survival We fight for your dreams We walk for your honor And we know what that means Every step is for you Every moment within Is up at all We all know is what we must win Every step is for you Every breath for your cause Everything that we do We do just because We fight for your survival We fight for your dreams We walk for your honor And we know what that means Every step is for you Every moment within Is up at all We all know is what we must win What we must win I also composed a piano piece called Simply You to represent having a heart-to-heart dialogue with my late friend Linda. And I performed that piece at her memorial service with a backdrop of a movie collage of photos of her that I put together and all of her loved ones while I performed that piano piece live. So using music, dance, art, poetry, and spoken word are various ways we contribute and appreciate our loved ones. As you listen to Simply You, the piano music, you might notice a memory, a sensation, or maybe nothing at all, and that's okay. You may want to listen to my music as a backdrop as you journal notes or verses or even doodle some artwork. Here is Simply You. Enjoy.[Music][Music][Music][Music][Music][Music][Music][Music][Music][Music] [Music][Music][Music][Music][Music][Music][Music][Music] As you listened, what feelings, memories, or images came up for you? Allow yourself to reflect on the ways loss can transform us, how it can inspire action, tribute, or a deeper connection to the people we love and the causes that matter. There's no need to analyze anything, just simply sit with whatever emerges and honor it. And now I'd like to close out today's episode with another original piano piece I composed called "From My Heart to Yours." I composed this as a dialogue with and tribute to my late brother after he passed, as a reflection of love, remembrance, and our eternal bond that continues beyond his passing. One thing I have learned is that grief continues, as does my bond with my late loved ones. It's not something I've closed the book on or moved on from. It's part of who I am, and it's how I approach my life right now. I honor my bond with my brother in this piano piece, and I appreciate that he feels as present in my heart now as he ever did. That is part of the miracle of the eternity of our bonds with our loved ones. They literally transcend time and space. As you listen to my piano piece, allow yourself to simply be present with whatever feelings arise for you. Let my music guide you to a gentle space within your heart. There's no need to change anything, just notice your emotions, your memories, and the quiet spaces that they leave. Or simply be present with the stillness, with a music, and breathe. Take this time as a musical meditation, a moment to honor your own experiences of grief and loss, connect with the spirit of and memory of your loved ones, and to offer yourself gentleness, compassion, and presence. Here is "From My Heart to Yours."[music] I invite you to explore your own reflections and responses, noticing how creative expression, through music, poetry, or any form, can help process feelings and bring clarity. Today's episode also marks the two-year anniversary of both my books, "Kaleidoscope of the Heart," a collection of poetry and lyrics, and"Start Piano," what you need for successful learning. And you can continue exploring these works and the inspiration behind them at yourcreativechord.com/books. Join me next month in episode 91 when this series will conclude in a heart-to-heart conversation with my guest, Chris Mamone, acceptance coach from the "Grief Empowerment Journey" podcast, sharing practical ways to face grief, find meaning, and move forward with clarity. Until then, please take care of yourself. Allow yourself space, time, and gentleness as you go through the grief experience. May our journey together bring comfort, peace, deeper meaning, and presence to your life now. Thank you for listening to Your Creative Chord podcast. If you found inspiration in today's episode, please leave a review and subscribe to the show. Your support helps spread the message of creativity and inspired living. Stay connected with Jenny Leigh and a vibrant community of creatives and curious minds. Visit yourcreativechord.com for more resources. Remember, daily life is where your creative flow begins. Embrace the journey.